Wire-gauging mechanism



F. QG. wlsyvELL WIRE GAUGING MECHAISM Feb. 7, 1928.

` NVENTOR MM A TTURNE Y Patented F eb. 7, 1928.

,unirse STATES PATENT OFFICE.

nnnnnnioi: e. wrswnnn, nsoinsnn; Mensen-nr e. Wiswnm., Anivrmis'rnnmnix,

- or sianrrnn, Wnsrineron. Y

y WIRE-GAUGING MECILIANISM.

Application Ied August 1, 1922'. Serial No. 578,878.

applied to the problems and conditions` in.-

herent in trolley Wire use by traction companies, nevertheless. it' is not to be presumed that the'application ot the invention is limited to'any such narrow lield, but the same is. co-eXtensive in all fields Where the device constituting the invention may be employed or Where like conditions and diiiiculties obtain in part or altogether..

Trolley wire is composed ot copper, a

metal which relatively Wearsgaway easily. Since the trolley pulley is maintained in contact with the trolley Wireby pressure only and is otherwise' tree, it is a matter oi' common experience tor the trolley to become disengaged from the trolley Wire and the momentum of the car carries foi-Ward, causing the trolley pole to strike with great violence against the cross-Wires which support the trolley Wire. p pens that ther-e is a break in the trolley Wire, resulting` in the tying up and blocling of traiiic With incident costly ldelay pend-ing the. repair of "the trolley Wire. Hence 1t 1s important that the eonditionot the trolley Wire be carefully Watched and rigid inspection maintained to guard against permitting` such Wear to proceed to the point Where the troll-ey rWire ywill not sustain the strains to which itis subjected. Great expense is'therei'ore involved in ascertaining' the condition oi the trolley `vire and inspectingq the same. Mere observation not sufficient for the eye cannot be depended upon to detect the extent of the Wear.

Heretotore, the practice-in determining.. the amount ot Wearot trolley Wire has va-y ried with the 'purpose ot the inspection. For appraisal purposes, the practice has been to xout out sections oi the trollev Wire and weigh the 'same to determine thel jectiona'ble.

Such

Thus, it etten `haptent ot the Wear., Obviously such a method is unsatisfactory since it gives no accurate measure of the utility of the Winer-part may be greatly Worn While the Wire asf a Whole; may be in fair condition. Also, theV great expense oit taking down and reinstalf lation rendersiany such method highly ob- Also the use of micrometer calipershas been employed but obviously any such process is sloiv' and tedious and eX- pensive. involving separate tabulation and calculation ot all data. A condition which complicatesv the inspection Work is that the trolley Wire does not Wear uniformly, but in certain parts of the city where its use is increased by the passing of a large number ot cars or other causes, its Wear is much more rapid. Also tliose'rsections Where the car must be stopped and started most trequently also gives rise to greater Wear on the trolley Wire, so thatthroughout the entire system there are sections 'of the Wiref which are subjected to much more Wear than other sections., A further condition to be iet in the inspection otk the trolley Wire is. that it should be done Without interfering with tratlic.

In lgeneral the object of' thev invention is t0 overcome the objectionsnt the means heretofore provided. A primary object ofthe invention is to provide a device which Will reproduce in record form the exact contour ot a-trolley Wire or otherivire or cable on the primary obj-'ect of the inventionis to provide a device Which may be utilized 1n making its record expeditiously. A further object ot the invention is to provide a mechanism to inzake said records of theeharacter of a trolley Wire or cable which may be readily1 4adapted to any form of trolley Wire or cablek whether thesame be round, grooved ork otL ligure 8 contour, cross-sectionlly considered and furtherto provide such a mechanism as will be adapted to different sizes o' said trolley wire or cable. A further prinmry object of the invention is to provide "uch a device as will be simple in its oper- Ldion and yet satisfy the fundamental requisite ol accuracy. A further primary object is to provide such a mechanism as above referred to which will require but two oper- 'tors, one ot whom is the tower-truck driver. y"rnd finally, a primary object ot' the invention is to provide such an instrument as will produce the chart directly, and at the time of inspection, in a form `which may be filed for further reference and purposes ot comparison thus avoidingT subsequent tracing); or tabulation.

The above mentioned general objects 0i the invention together with others inherent in the same are attained b v the mechanism illustrated in the following' drawings, the same being` merely preferred exemplary forms of embodiment oi' the invention, thruout `which drawings like relerence numerals iclicate like parts:

Figure 1 isay view from above with the cover plate removed, oi a wire gauging mechanism embodying the invention applied to a trolley wire the original contour of which is round in the instance herein chosen l'or illustration;

l is a view in section on dotted line 2, 2 o Fig. 1;

3 is a view ot the pencil and the end '-fortion of the pencil arm inposition on a portion of the record and disk;

Fig. Ll is a view ot a detail of said wire gauging' mechanism;

Fi 5 is a view of the carriage cover plate;

Fig'. (i is a View of a modii'ied form oic the pencil arm and shows the relationship between parts or" the device;

Fig. '7 is a view in perspective of the. underside of adevice embodyingthe invention;

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of the upperside of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 9 is a view oi? a, chart record blank; and

10 is a view of a record blank with record made thereon.

A supporting disk 11 preferably havingl a track-like V'flange 12 is `orovided with a radiallv disposed wire receiving slot 13 and with a hub 141-. said slot 13 extending through said hub. 14. Revolvably and axially disposed in said hub 14 is a wire embracing or chamberingj member 15 preferably in the 'form of a bushing', having a radially disposed wire receiving); slot 16, said bushing being mounted so that it may be turned to canse its slot 16 to register with slot 18 of the disk. The peripheral surface of said bushing or chamberingr member 15 as illustrated is provided with a `froove la for an arc covering about 180o in length. A pin 18 carried by and extending from the hub 1li protrudes into this Agroove, and functions to rotatably hold the chambering member 15 in place in the hub 14. A thumb-screw 19 carried by the hub 'le serves to clamp both the chambering member and the disk iixably to the wire 2O and cause the diametrical center 21 of the wire constituting' the subject ot inspection to coincide with the diametrical center of the disk. as well as the diametrical center of the record blank hereinafter described,- said center 'for the wire. disk, and record to be designated by the one reference numeral 21.

A carriage 22 preferably ot sector torn] having a cover plate i9 is mounted upon said track-like Harige 12 of the disk having' a T- formed recess 23 to embrace said track-like flange 12 which maiv tains said carriage in parallel position over-said disk while the mounting or support is confined to the pc.- ripheral portion of the disk. @n this carriag'e is mounted the recording means w iich may consist of a pencil arm 211 pi voted t 25 and a tracing arm 26 pivoted 27. said arms having segment gears 28 and 29 respectively. These gears intermesh, thereby establishing a connection between the two arms whereby movement of the one causes a predetermined proportional movement ot the other. A pencil or pen point 30 is provided on the end of the pencil a'm 2in A spring 31 urges the rsaid pencil point towards the diainetrical center 21.V

A spring 32 is disposed Ain the recess 5%:3 adjacent recess 23 to cause said carriage to maintain a predetermined diced radialwdistance from the center 21. This spring RQ is preferably positioned in the middle ol'I the arc 341, 35 of the carriage 22 so that the said carriage is held squarely against the disc. for which purpose said spr: c es is c,... dd to extend with equal bearing on each side ol; the line 36, 37 which passes through the middle point of the arc i/l, 35 and. theicenter 21, on which line thepivot points 27 and QF are preferably disposed. A pencil holding' catch 38 is preferably provided to hold said pencil 30 when the device is beine applied to the wire 2O to be inspected or at srch other times as may be desired.

Instead of having the pivot point 2'? o' the tracinfr arm as close to the wire shown in Fig. 1, it may well be 1)laced further back and preferably positioned as shown in Fir. 6, that is, so that the pivot point is located at about the middle oi said A gear 39 is preferably provided. in place of the segment gear 28. rlhis results in cutting' down the tendency to inaccuracy in course of time due to wear of gears.

The mode of operation of the invention is as follows: T he application oil the Vdevice embodying` the invention to the Wire to be tested llllf Land??? is aoeonip'lislied'v by revolving the wire einbraeingmeniber 15 yunti its slot ltregisters with the slot 13l oft tliegdislr. In the ease ot Vthe. trolley Wire7 the under side #1460i the devieeis then Caused to engage the Wire 20` by pushing it upon the Wire 2O through slot-s 13 and 16 until the said'W-ire 2()y occupies the center of the di sli 11, vvfhieh is also the center of the elianibering member 15z That is the Center oil' the wire is Caused Y' to be disposed at the vcenterk 21 of the disk l1 and Wire chamber-ing member 15. The cliainbering member 15 is then turned 180 so. that the slot 13. is. oppositely disposed to the slot 1G thereby eausing the wire to be embraced or yerichambi-ired by theV member 15. The set screw 19l is then. screwed donn vso that the und'etormed orv upper part of the wire 20 is eausedto press securely against that part of' the bushing opposite to the slot 16, malring the center off thewire to coincido with the Center 21 oiE the dislt 11 and the Chainbering member 15.

Thereupon the record blank l() is pressed upon the disk by pull-ing apart the sides. of the blank adjacent the` slit or eut 42 and causing the blank, While being applied, to straddle the member 15 and Wire 2O so. that the central opening 4,1 of the record' blank shall embrace the eliamberingmember which f owe-does siighiiy beyond a@ suf-face, of the. disl; 1 1. The record blank is then passed doWn upon the pin points 46 vand i7 Whieh maintain the said blank iiiiedly seeured to,V

the disk 1l so that it Will not rotate as re- Siioois die disl- The roooi'd blank .iS Prolior'aloly disposed. upon. @lio disk with the' slit or out 4.2 oooositoly disposed to tlio slot of the y r)The pencil arm l2li is tlieii released from its catch 38 which permits the spring 31 to cause theV pencil arm. to rotate towards the Center of tlio diska Also los' it noted, the iisdoil alf-iii. 2d. is so mounted. that it. functions as d serios, pressing .tl-1.o' pencil 30 down upon the r'soord blank 111 doing this.' the. trading drin .26 is also rotated Simultaneously with the poooil arm 2d by .reason ot tho sodi. ooniiootions 28 and 29 until its hardened point 48 iai-fosses. Upon. tho Wire That is the Sorfaee of the Wire upon engaging thepoint i8 Stops olio rotating of @lio iioooil arm 2d Rovolviils the Carriage QZQPPl-iforably iii flireotionoi the arrow illustrated, to eause the point' 48 to engage the undeformed part of the wire, if any,will pause the Vpeneil arm to stop its rotating at a time when the pencil readies the. oirolo oiitlio moord lolorlls,"

said eirele represents. the-true contour et the Wir-e- When it is undeformed by Wear. In faet,.this is the test. of whetherthe instrunient is properly adjustedi. Thereupon, earriage 22 is moved counterrloekwise in the tori'n` of the-device as herein illustrated and obviously the tracing point 48. ot the traeingi arin 26` being yieldinglyY pressed against the wire will folio-W the contour of the wirev and when the contour ot this Wire moties toward the center 21 of the Wire, as it does-on theaworn under side portiondll, which islalso the center of the enlarged circle 43 of the ree-ord blank 405 the tracing point, 48,;Will likewiseinove towards said center. Manifestly,. infdoing this it will cause the peneil airin :Zetl likewise toyijnove towards said center and as the carriage Zig-is moved aroundt the disk e ounter-clockwise,y the lpencil `arm Willv trace thel contour line 4st of theA Worn pertion on a. predetermined proportional enlanged seale upon the record blank. The contour line ot' the Worn pant manifestly will lisin-k side` et the contour line` 43 et' they record .which represents the original unworn wire.

The party between the contour linesli and dat manifestly represents. the part or' the wire that has been Worn away. A few meas-ure.- y

ments of this worn segment will serve in eonnection with prepared tables to give acourately'the area thusl Worn away so that the degree ot Wear can bouaoourdtely computed as Woll as being sroiiliioally illustrated en the eliart.` However, a planiineter. may be employed and the Wornarea may be cpiiellyV ascertained by this means.

It Will be noted that the carriage is mounted upon dio traoliflike flange of. the

disk Midi iliooziorably iS oaroiully maintained.'-

iiidlixedi relation te the center' ot the dish by means of the spring. 32. so that the tracing arni. ZGis free. te follow exactlylthe contour ot the Wire the ooirfigo iS moved,- oi ro-Aj tated about the center 21. The peneil. arm 24 moves in d oiroloy which Passes throng-li the center 21. of the Wire,.that is, the radius is equal to the distance 'rointhe pivot point 25 oit the vpeneil arm. to the: center 21., or from .the pivot point 25 tothe center of the pen eil point 30..

In. the above 1 have dosoribodtho iovoir tion Withreferenee to. the situation where there romains sono@ oiiworn ,Surface of the Wire or cable to be gauged. In this eonnecf.

tien, it ispossible to use on. the record blank the reference circle 43,. and since the. device is adjusted using the unwoin portion of the Wire asV the basis ot said. adjustinent,` it is possible to reproduce the contour of the Worn portion in. a. manner already described, so that it may be compared to the reference Circle t3 point by point. Nevertheless it is manifest that this constitutes only themost.

desired arrangement.

.11i the event that. there. no portion of lUfm the original surface of the wire unworn; i. e., if the wire is worn throughout its circumference, it is manifest that the device is so designed that it will truly and accurately `race the contour of the wire. But in this connection the reference circle could not be used as basis for comparison point by point, although it is clear that said circle would constitute a general Vgraphic reference means to'judge the portion ot' the wire which is Worn away.

Instead oi a knife-like tracing point 48 this timing point might be simply a sharp needle-like point where the wire to be traced is oi uneven surface such as in a wire cable. The chambering member l5 may obviously be provided with any iorm of' a receiving recess to ht the particular wire to be inspected. yThe part opposite the slot 16 is ot a form to nold the center of the wire in the center ci? the chambering member and maniicstly musd be changed for diii'erent sizes or' wire to always maintain this relationship.

Obviously, changes may be made in the iorms, dimensions, and arrangement ot the parts of the invention, without departing from the principle thereof; the above set* ting forth only preferred terms oi embodiment.

Nhat is claimed is:

l. A wire-gauging mechanism embodying a supporting ldisk having a wire receiving slot therein; a. wire chambering member centrally disposed in said disk; a carriage mounted on said supporting disk; and recording means mounted on said carriage.

2. A wire-gauging mechanism embodying a. supporting disk having a wire receiving slot therein; a wire chambering member centrally disposed in said disk; means whereby said ydisk may be iixedly clamped to said wire; a carriage mounted on said supporting disk; and recordingmeans mounted on said carriage.

3. A wire-gauging mechanism embodying a supporting disk having a wire receiving slot and a track-like flange disposed on the periphery of said disk; a wire chambering member centrally disposed in said disk; means whereby said disk may be fixedly clamped to said wire; a carriage mounted on the track-like flange of said supporting disk; and recording means mounted on said carriage.

4. A wire-gauging mechanism embodying a supporting disk having a wire receiving slot therein; a wire chambering member consisting of a bushing revolvably disposed in the diametrical center of the disk and having a wire receiving slot; means whereby said chambering member and disk may be liiXedly clamped to the wire; a carriage mounted on said supporting disk; and recording means mounted on said carriage.

5. A wire-gauging mechanism embodying a supporting disk having a wire receiving i slot therein; a wire chambering member 6. A wiregauging mechanism embodying a supporting disk having a wire receiving slot therein; a wire chambering member consisting ot abushing revolvably 'disposed in the diametrical center of the disk and having a wire receiving slot; means whereby said chambering member and disk may be iixedly clamped to the wire; a` carriage mounted on said supporting disk; a pencil arm and a tracing arm pivotally mounted on said carriage; a` spring urging one end oi the pencil arm to diametrical center; means connecting said two arms whereby movement of the tracing arm causes a predetermined measured movement o the pencil arm; and recording means mounted on said carriage.

7. A wire-gauging mechanism embodying a supporting disk having a wire receiving slot therein and a track-like flange disposedy on the periphery of said disk; a wire chambering member consisting of a bushing revolvably disposed in the diametrical center of the disk and having a wire receiving slot; means whereby said chambering member and disk may be lixedly clamped to the wire; a carriage mounted on the track-like flange of said supporting disk; a pencil arm` having a segment gear, pivotally mounted on said carriage, a wire contour tracing arm having a segment gear intermeshing with said pencil arm gear, pivot-ally mounted on said carriage; a spring urging one end of said pencil arm to diametrical center; and a` spring maintaining the carriage in predetermined position with respect'l to the diametrical center of the disk.

8. A wire-gauging mechanism embodying a supporting disk having a wire receiving slot therein and a track-like flange disposed on the periphery of said disk; a wire chambering member consisting of a l'iushing, revolvably disposed in the diametrical center of the disk and having a wire receiving slot; the contouroi2 the bottom ot said slot corresponding to the unworn contour ot the wire to be measured, whereby the axial center of the wire is caused to coincide with the axial center of' the supporting disk; means whereby said chambering member and disk may be lixedly clamped to the wire; a carriage mounted on the track-like flange of said supporting disk; a pencil arm, having a segment gear, pivotally mounted on said carriage, a Wire contour tracing arm having a segment gear intermeshing with said pencil ar-m gear, pivotally mounted on said carriage; a spring urging one end oi' said pencil arm to diametrical center; and a spring maintaining the carriage in predetermined position With respect to the diametrical center of the disk.

9. A Wire-gauging mechanism embodying a supporting disk having a vvire receiving slot therein and a track-like iiange disposed on the periphery of said disk; a wire chambering member consisting oi a bushing revolvably disposed in the diametrical center of the disk and having a Wire receiving slot, the contour of the bottoni of said slot cor responding to the unive-rn contour of the Wire to be measured, whereby the axial center of the Wire is caused to coincide with the axial center oi the supporting` disk; means whereby `said chambering member and disk may be iixedly clamped to the wire; a carriage mounted on the track-like flange of said supporting disk; a pencil arm, having a segment gear, pivotally mounted on said carriage; a wire contour tracing arm having a segment gear intermeshing rWith said pencil arm gear, pivotally mounted on said carriage; a spring urging one end of said pencil arm to diametrical center; a spi-ino' maintaining the carriage in predetermined position with respect to the diametrical center of the disk; and a record blank, having a radially7 disposed cut or slit therein and an axial opening of a size equal to that of the chambering member over which the saidblank may be placed, and having an outline traced thereon corresponding to and bearing a known ratio to the Wire before being Worn.

10. A Wire-gauging mechanism embodying a supporting disk having a vvire receiving slot therein 'and a track-like flange disposed on the periphery of said disk; a Wire chambering member consisting of a bushing revolvably disposed in the diametrical center of the disk and having a Wire receiving slot, the contour of thebottom of Vsaid slot corresponding to the unvvorn contour of the Wire to be measured, whereby the axial center of the Wire is caused to coincide with the axial center of the supporting disk; means Where by said chambering member and disk may be iiXedly clamped to the Wire; a carriage mounted on the track-like flange of said supporting disk; a pencil arm, having a segmember over which the said blank may be Y placed, and having an outline traced thereon corresponding to and bearing a known ratio to the Wire before being Worn; and' means to hold said blank in fixed position in said supporting disk.

11. In combination with'a Wire gauging mechanism, the combination of a supporting disk; a wire chambering member centrally disposed in said disk; and a carriage mounted upon and disposed to rotatively move about. the periphery of said disk.

12. In combination With a Wire gauging mechanism, the combination of a support ing disk having a Wire receiving slot` therein; and a Wire embracing or chambering member axially andy rotatively disposed in said disk, said member having a Wire receiv ing slot registrable withv said disk slot.

13. In combination with a Wire gaugingl mechanism a record blank having a hole disposed in the center thereof, the center oi said blank coinciding ivith the center of the wire to be gauged; a contour outline traced on said blank corresponding to and bearing a known ratio to the Wire to be gauged be- 'fore being Worn; and recording means operatively disposed above said blank having a Atracing arm disposed to bear upon the Worn section of said Wire upon the Wire to be gauged whereby the portion of said Wire Worn away may be graphically shown.

14. In combination with a Wire gauging mechanism, the combination of a support-ing disk; a wire chambering member centrally disposed in said disk; a carriage mounted upon and disposed to rotatively move about the periphery of said disk; a pencil arm and a tracing arm pivotally mounted on said carriage, the pivotal point of both the said arms being in a straight line coinciding With the radius of said supporting disk. l

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 26th day of July, A. D. 1922.

MARGARET G. IVISWELL, Administratrice of the Estate of Frederick G. Wz'swell, deceased. i 

